The FilOil Arena prepares for a showcase of volleyball power this Tuesday, as two teams brimming with newly acquired talent – Nxled and Farm Fresh – collide in the PVL All-Filipino Conference.
Both squads aggressively pursued reinforcements during the off-season, hoping to translate star power into on-court dominance. Now, the moment of truth arrives as they unveil their revamped rosters.
Nxled, in a bold move, absorbed a significant portion of the championship-winning Petro Gazz team, including star player Brooke Van Sickle. The influx of talent also included seasoned veterans MJ Phillips, Myla Pablo, Jonah Sabete, Jules Tolentino, and Bang Pineda.
Further bolstering their lineup, Nxled secured Aby Maraño, formerly of Chery Tiggo, and Aduke Ogunsanya from Choco Mucho. These additions join an already formidable core featuring EJ Laure, Chiara Permentilla, and Krich Macaslang.
However, Nxled’s coach, Ettore Guidetti, faces a unique challenge: integrating a massive 27-player roster. Finding the right combinations and maximizing the potential of so many skilled athletes will be key.
“It’s a pleasant problem that I’m sure we’ll solve,” Guidetti stated, acknowledging the complexity of managing such a deep team. The Italian strategist is confident in his ability to forge a cohesive unit.
Farm Fresh isn’t backing down, either. They’ve strategically added Mylene Paat and Ara Galang from Chery Tiggo, Royse Tubino from Choco Mucho, and Remy Palma from Petro Gazz, significantly elevating their competitive edge.
Adding to their firepower, Farm Fresh brought in Koji Tsuzurabara, a championship-winning coach from Japan who previously led the Angels to victory in the AFC. His experience and tactical acumen are expected to be invaluable.
The evening’s second match promises another exciting contest as ZUS Coffee and Capital1 face off at 6:30 p.m., both eager to make a strong statement at the start of their campaigns.
